A new French Open women`s singles champion will be crowned on Saturday as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces off against No. 2 Coco Gauff. While Sabalenka boasts three Grand Slam titles and Gauff one, neither player has previously claimed victory at Roland Garros.
We asked our experts to provide their insights on the key strategies each player needs to employ to win and their predictions for the final showdown.
How Can Coco Gauff Win?
For Gauff to secure the title, consistency on her serve is paramount. Experts agree she needs a high first-serve percentage, ideally above 60%, and must limit double faults to avoid giving Sabalenka easy chances. Gauff`s exceptional court speed allows her to defend effectively and force errors from Sabalenka, but this is only sustainable if she isn`t constantly under pressure on her own serve.
The backhand-to-backhand exchanges will be critical; Gauff needs to dictate these rallies to stay in control. Her mental resilience, demonstrated throughout the tournament and in past major finals (including her US Open win over Sabalenka), is a significant asset. Leveraging her big-match experience at Roland Garros and maintaining composure in high-pressure moments will be vital, along with bringing her trademark court coverage and defense.
Ultimately, Gauff`s success hinges on her ability to land her first serve consistently and start strongly, preventing Sabalenka from gaining an early foothold and potentially forcing the match to be decided quickly before Sabalenka finds her peak level.
How Can Aryna Sabalenka Win?
Sabalenka`s path to victory involves leveraging her powerful game and putting pressure on Gauff`s serve, particularly the second serve, and targeting Gauff`s forehand. She needs to serve effectively herself but is well-equipped to attack Gauff`s less potent deliveries.
To counter Gauff`s speed and defense, Sabalenka should look to shorten points when possible, perhaps by coming forward, and avoid getting drawn into extended baseline battles where Gauff`s tenacity shines. While her game is high-risk, she has shown the ability to temper her aggression with spin and variety when needed, as seen in crucial moments against Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka`s recent straight-sets victory over Gauff on clay in Madrid provides a strategic blueprint: start aggressively, dictate the pace from the outset, and be prepared to elevate her level as Gauff inevitably fights back. Experts note Sabalenka`s apparent confidence and ability to handle the pressure of a major final, suggesting that if she can maintain focus and execute her powerful, controlled game (like her dominant performance against Swiatek), she is the favorite.
Who Is Predicted to Win?
The expert consensus largely favors Aryna Sabalenka to win the French Open title. They point to her status as the world No. 1, her recent outstanding form (including a dominant win over Swiatek, the “queen of Roland Garros”), her success in reaching the finals of five of her last six Grand Slams, and fewer perceived weaknesses in her game under pressure compared to Gauff`s serve or forehand.
While the head-to-head record is even (5-5), the momentum, recent clay court win, and Sabalenka`s overall higher level this year lead most to predict her victory, likely in three sets given the potential for shifts in momentum between these two players. However, one expert offers a dissenting view, picking Gauff based on her immense mental resolve and the determination forged from her previous Roland Garros final loss, suggesting that if Gauff can start well and land her first serves consistently, her unquantifiable fighting spirit could carry her to her second Grand Slam title.
Marcus Bellamy